Bill Richardson on Environment
Governor Richardson wants to cut oil demand by 50% by 2020 and change to 50% renewable sources for electricity by 2040. He wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 80% by 2040. He also believes it is crucial to lead by example and restore America as the world's leader on the environment. Richardson contends that we can do all of this without breaking the bank.
Oil Importing
Richardson wants to reduce oil imports from around 65% to 10%, through increased car fuel efficiency and use of low-carbon fuels.
Greenhouse gases
He wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020 and 80% by 2040 with a market based cap-and-trade system.
International Agreements:
Richardson believes that we should start by strengthening our North American partnership with Mexico and Canada. He proposes the establishment of a North American Energy Council—both to assure that we are efficiently developing and transporting energy in the North American market and to leverage our combined market power. He would use this partnership to engage a broader hemispheric energy strategy.
Energy efficiency:
Richardson wants increase the economy's energy efficiency by rewarding auto manufacturers for building and selling cars that use less fuel and establish one uniform Corporate Average Fuel Economy for all vehicles. Specifically, he wants to encourage the use of lighter but stronger material to build our cars, by increasing engine efficiency and by increasing the use of hybrids and other advanced technologies, we could get America’s car fleet to 50 miles per gallon in the next 10 years.
Richardson also seeks to reduce our energy and net emissions by 5 percent next year, and then an additional two percent each year thereafter, by:
- Strengthening energy efficiency building codes.
- Enacting stronger national appliance efficiency standards.
- Establishing National Carbon Sequestration Goals.
Energy Research:
Richardson wants to fund more federal energy research and development. He suggest improving its effectiveness by starting with some kind of funding certainty over time to make the government more attractive and reliable to its industry research partner. The Governor specifically wants to see funding go towards bio-fuels research and provide incentives for its distribution by, for example, helping gas stations convert at least one pump to handle E 85 or other bio-fuels. Fs.
Hybrids:
The federal government also should use its vast purchasing power to transform the energy marketplace by, for example, purchasing more hybrid and flex fuel cars for its own use – providing a huge guaranteed market for efficient vehicles.
Changes to the tax code:
- Expanded tax breaks for energy efficient building and retrofits
- Tax credits for hybrid cars and public transportation passes, not for hummers and SUVs
- And the creation of a system of tradable emission credits to encourage private companies to invest in conservation and clean alternative energy technologies.
Directly from the candidate:
In order to make America a Clean Energy Nation, as I made New Mexico a Clean Energy State, we need a man-on-the-moon program to end our addiction to oil and abate our global warming crisis. And we need to do it must faster and much more boldly that most people are suggesting. Some politicians and some industry people will say we can’t do what I propose – I say we need to change fast or sink slowly. Now is the time for bold actions, clear vision, and complete commitment.
March 14, 2007 Speech on Environment